Music Industry Reacts to the Death of Steve Jobs

Following the news of the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, musicians have taken to social networks and emailed The BoomBox to express their condolences and remember the innovator who revolutionized the way we experience music.

The world of hip-hop responded in a wave. Questlove of the Rootstweeted a new obituary: “Adopted. DropOut. FontLover. LSDlover. Dreamer. Innovator. Fired from his own Apple 1ce. Pixarlogist. 338 PATENTS! philanthropist. #JOBS.”

Producer Swizz Beatz emphatically tweeted, “RIPS STEVE JOBS THE GREAT! HE CHANGED OUR WORLD IN MANY WAYS NOW HE IS GOING 2 ANOTHER WORLD OF GREATNESS I GUESS HE GRADUATED WITH HONORS.”

Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons said, “Steve Jobs was a prophet of that uniquely American genius, the Creative Entrepreneur — something no one can copy, no one can outsource, no banker can hire — a visionary who created a movement that changed generations through painstaking tenacity, even after he was fired in 1985 from the company he founded for thinking too far forward.

“He gambled everything, over and over, on his vision. We owe him not just our respect and our love, but also we need to take away the lesson: never give up, never compromise your dream, never forget how you can change the world in this incredible country. This is what hip-hop has
always been about. Never giving up. I can give him no greater a tribute than quoting him to the GlobalGrind generation: “Your time on this earth is limited, don’t live someone else’s life, live by your vision.”

Michelle Williams, formerly of Destiny’s Child, said, “Steve Jobs’ passing is a huge loss to the entire world! He wasn’t an entertainer or someone we’d see everyday, but what he offered the world through his own genius mind will cause him to live forever!! There’s not an APPLE product that we won’t touch and not think of Steve Jobs! Rest in Peace.”

Watch Michelle Williams’ ‘We Break the Dawn’

Bill Werde, editorial director Billboard magazine said, “Other companies sold digital music before Apple. Other companies made digital music available on computers and digital phones and used it in commercials. Apple’s brilliance – and I don’t think anyone doubts that this was Steve Jobs’ brilliance – was that Apple made it exciting and simple and effortless and fun. Before Steve Jobs, digital music was math class. After, it was recess. People talk about the differences between style and substance but with Jobs, the two were one.

“Today, the music business has a complex relationship with Apple, which has become yet another entity that built an enormous business atop the rights of music companies, much like radio and MTV before it. But I think you’d be hard-pressed to find one music executive worth his or her salt who wouldn’t agree that Jobs’ vision and tenacity blazed a trail for digital music as we know it today. Without a doubt, when you think of the Mount Rushmore of the music business – pioneers like Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler, Clive Davis and Jimmy Iovine – Steve Jobs has earned his prominent place.”

Josh Grobantweeted, “Such a sad day, I can trace my apple memories to the IIC when i was a kid. RIP.”

Redfoo (Stefan Gordy) from LMFAO said, “Steve Jobs is my hero. He dramatically changed the world by empowering us with the greatest creative tool ever known to mankind, Apple. Most everything I do in business is modeled after what he has accomplished. There won’t be a day in my life where I don’t ask myself, ‘What would Steve do?’”

“I can’t think of anyone who had more impact on our culture and quality of life than Steve Jobs, Rick Rubin, record producer and co-chairman of Columbia Records stated. “His vision opened the door to the internet for everyone, his vision allowed us to carry our record collection in our pocket, his vision completely changed the idea of what a mobile phone is and can do, his vision changed what an animated movie could aspire to be. His vision integrated our world, brought us closer together and allowed us to live with beautiful, functional, inspiring devices in our homes and in our hands. He did so, and our lives continue to get better thanks to Steve Jobs.”

Alien Ant Farm drummer Mike Cosgrove shared, “I remember the NFL ‘You make the call’ commercials playing on Monday Night Football in the third grade. Fast forward 10 years later, and I became involved in music and trying to create. Be it graphics, photos, or recording music itself, Macs made it possible to do it from home and professionally. Steve Jobs and his people definitely turned my world upside down in an unimaginable way. Even as I send this from an iPad with an iPhone in my pocket and a Mac laptop in my room, I can’t imagine not having these blessings. From my 7-year-old daughter to my 77-year-old grandpa, Steve Jobs’ endeavors affect my life daily. It’s a sad day for technology and especially his family. We’re all so lucky to have a pioneer such as him to touch our lives.”

Rocker Bret Michaels shared his thoughts, saying, “First I must express my deepest condolences to Steve’s wife Laurene, his family and friends. He showed great strength and perseverance through his illness and continued to be an innovator all the while remaining positive while fighting his battle with cancer. I can only thank Steve for his innovation, inspiration and creativity while touching all of our lives in some way shape or form. Again my condolences. He will be missed.”

30 Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto wrote, “Thank you, Steve, for reminding of us to dream bigger, reach further, push harder, break rules, never give up, be our best, stop at nothing and for showing us how to live this life the way it is supposed to be lived. You put more than a ding in the universe – you made reality from a dream.

You changed the course of the lives of all of us in Thirty Seconds To Mars by helping to give us the chance to share our music with the world. We will never forget that. Rest in peace.”

Fall Out Boy rocker Pete Wentz said,” “There are few people who have made an impression in every area of the modern world. Steve Jobs was a such a person — a modern Leonardo da Vinci. He changed the way we thought about art, design, invention, and the future by combining them all. He has been someone that taught me it’s important to believe in what you do no matter how against the grain or revolutionary it is. He was a true visionary in every sense of the word.”

Kiss‘ Gene Simmons said, “America’s greatness lies in its entrepreneurs. Individuals with a vision. They make our lives easier, and more interesting. Steve Jobs was a creator. His legacy will continue. Ironic and profound what his last name actually meant to America — Jobs.”

Heart‘s Ann and Nancy Wilson said in a statement, “Steve Jobs was a beautiful genius who put music right in our pockets.”

Decemberists frontman Colin Meloytweeted, “My dad brought home a squat, beige Mac in ’84. I played Dark Castle and wrote stories on it. It changed everything. Thanks, Mr. Jobs.”

Welcome back to The Boombox

It appears that you already have an account created within our VIP network of sites on .
To keep your points and personal information safe, we need to verify that it's really you.
To activate your account, please confirm your password.
When you have confirmed your password, you will be able to log in through Facebook on both sites.

Welcome back to The Boombox

It appears that you already have an account on this site associated with . To connect your existing account just click on the account activation button below. You will maintain your existing VIP profile. After you do this, you will be able to always log in to http://theboombox.com using your original account information.